Bigg Boss Kannada Studio Sealed by Karnataka Pollution Board for Environmental Violations
The popular Kannada reality show Bigg Boss, hosted by actor Kichcha Sudeep and filmed on a custom-built studio in Bidadi, Bengaluru, has faced a major setback. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) ordered the immediate sealing of the Bigg Boss Kannada studio premises owned by Vels Studios and Entertainment Private Limited, also known as Jolly Wood Studios & Adventures. This action came after serious breaches of environmental laws were discovered.
District officials, police, and KSPCB personnel reached the studio early Tuesday to shut down all operations. The closure order follows a notice issued on Monday directing the studio to cease all activities immediately due to non-compliance with environmental regulations under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
The KSPCB highlighted that the studio was operating large-scale entertainment and studio activities without securing the mandatory environmental consents required for establishment and operation. The notice specifically stated: “The premises are being used without the required permissions for establishment and operation,” and warned that failure to comply would attract penal action.
Copies of the closure directive were sent to the Deputy Commissioner of Ramanagara District, the Managing Director of BESCOM, and other local authorities to ensure coordinated enforcement of the order.
Eshwar Khandre, Karnataka’s Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister, told reporters that the studio had failed to obtain the necessary licences despite repeated inspections and notices. “They continued to run their amusement park and studio activities in violation of Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal orders,” he explained. The regional commissioner had issued a notice as far back as March 2024 and inspected the premises, confirming the absence of required Water and Air Act licences.
The Bigg Boss Kannada show, a major draw in the state television space notable for its elaborate production, has been filmed at this location for several years. This closure abruptly halts ongoing filming and other entertainment activities at the site, pending resolution of the environmental compliance issues.
This enforcement action underscores the drive by Karnataka environmental authorities to ensure adherence to pollution control norms and regulatory oversight of commercial entertainment ventures.